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atrophy

at·ro·phy [ áttrəfee ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. wasting away: the shrinking in size of some part or organ of the body, usually caused by injury, disease, or lack of use
muscle atrophy

2. lessening of ability: weakening or lessening of some ability



intransitive verb  (past and past participle at·ro·phied, present participle at·ro·phy·ing, 3rd person present singular at·ro·phies)
Definition:
 
weaken: to weaken or waste away through disuse or the effects of disease

[Early 17th century. Via late Latin atrophia< Greek, "lack of food" < trophē "food"]
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